Ice making apparatus



May 15, 1962 M. L. NELSON ICE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 10, 1961 INVENTOR. Mar/c2451: fife/50m BY gum; #1 M4 FTTQWNZK May15, 1962 M. NELSON ICE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10,1961 INVENTOR. [Warm Si: N 6160 4 IrraF/vZ/ May 15, 1962 Filed Jan. 10,1961 ICE MAKING APPARATUS M. L. NELSON 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 -35 uuulullllllllmg 12 IIIIII mini? JIIII INVENTOR. lfarczzsljlfelwm 11 2M 1.4%

May 15, 1962 M. NELSON ICE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.10, 1961 INVENTOR.

BY WM w 4% irwiwi'r/ niteci States This invention relates to ice makingapparatus and more particularly to apparatus for producing ice in flakeform.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co- 20, 1957, nowforfeited for: Ice Making Apparatus.

It is the general object of the present invention to produce a new andimproved ice flaking machine.

It is a more specific object of the invention to produce an ice flakingmachine capable of producing a relatively large quantity of ice in flakeform with the flakes having a uniformity of size and quality, renderingthem suitable for many uses, including the refrigeration of foods andthe like.

One object of the invention is an ice making machine wherein the ice iscompressed upon discharge from the machine.

Another object is an ice making machine that advances and discharges iceaxially of a cylindrical freezing chamber.

While ice flaking machines have been in commercial use for a number ofyears, most of the machines producing flake ice of suitable quality arecapable of only a limited output and thus do not lend themselves to com--mercial uses wherein relatively large quantities of flake ice arerequired. According to the present invention, however, there is producedan ice flaking machine not only capable of producing flake ice ofsuitable quality but also capable of producing greater quantities of icein a given time than most machines presently available.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bereadily apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view partially broken away showing the iceflaking machine of the present invention and attendant components usedtherewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the ice flaking apparatus perse;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified top closure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the top closure of FIG. 6.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail an illustrative embodiment of the invention with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the ap pended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an ice flaking machine 10including a generally cylindrical casing 11 provided therein with acylindrical liner 1-2 spaced from the inner wall of the casing so as toprovide therebetween an annular space 13 in which is located the spiral-refrigerant carrying tube 14. The refrigerant tube 14 connects at oneend to an exit pipe 15 and a delivery pipe 16, each connected in turn toa compressor 17 and conaten pending application, Serial No. 697,681filed November ice denser 18 as shown. It Will be understood thatrefrigerant is supplied in the normal manner by the compressor andcondenser to the refrigerant coil 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the casing 11 is closed at its bottom by aclosure member 20 secured thereto by suitable bolts 21 and provided witha water inlet 22 opening at its inner end to the cylindrical chamberformed by the liner 12. The inlet 22 is connected by means of a conduit24 to a source of water in the form of a tank 25 having water therein,the level of which is determined by a float valve having a float 26. Byreason of the foregoing arrangement, the water level within thecylindrical chamber just referred to is maintained at approximately thesame height as the water level in the tank 25, which, in the particularembodiment shown, fixes the Water level at near the top of saidcylindrical chamber.

The closure member 20 is provided with a recess 27 therein in which islocated a suitable water seal 28 and an anti-friction bearing 29rotatably supporting a shaft 30 for driving an auger 31. The shaft 30 isdriven through a suitable gear reduction 32 by belts 33 driven in turnby an electric motor 34, the foregoing being to impart a slow rotationto the auger.

The auger is in the form of a cylinder provided on its exterior surfacewith a spiral flight 35 occupying the space 36 between the body portionof the auger and the inner surface of the liner 12.

I The top of the cylindrical chamber is closed by a top closure 37secured to the casing through the medium of integral lugs 38 extendingradially outwardly from the closure and attached by bolts 39 to thecasing. The closure 37 is provided with a central recess 40 covered by acap '41 and housing an anti-friction bearing 42 supporting the shaft 43forming an extension of the upper end of the auger.

The closure member 37 has a diameter less than the diameter of thecylindrical chamber formed by the liner .12 (except at the location ofthe hereinbefore described lugs 38 and the portion hereinafter to bedescribed) so -as to form a plurality of slots 44 axially aligned withthe space 36. Extending across the slots 44 and thus interrupting theircontinuity is a plurality of ice masticating members 45 each providedwith a lower knife edge 46 extending radially across the slots andoverlying the space 36 with the knife edges being positioned just abovethe upper end 47 of the flight 35.

A cover 48 overlies the closure 37 and is formed to provide a chute 49out of which the ice flakes are directed into a suitable receptacle (notshown).

In operating the apparatus described above, energy is supplied to themotor 34 to rotate the auger relatively slowly while water supplied tothe tank 25, and hence filling the space 36, is frozen in the form of afilm against the inner surface of the liner 12 byreason of therefrigerating of such liner through the medium of the refrigerantsupplied to the coil 14. Inasmuch as the outer edge of the flight 35 ispositioned closely adjacent the inner surface of the liner 12, the icefilm is scraped from the liner and moved upwardly as the auger rotates.As the ice reaches the top edge 47 of the auger, it is masticated andscraped therefrom by the knife edges 46 so that the ice is scraped fromthe auger and directed upwardly throughthe slots 44 and into the spaceoverlying the closure 37 and within the cover 48. As ice accumulateswithin the cover it eventually reaches the chute 49 and falls therefromto be directed into a suitable receptacle.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a modified top closure 50 is adaptedto be secured to the casing 11 in a manner similar to the top closure 37described hereinbefore. The closure 50 is provided with a central recess52 for the acceptance of. an anti-friction bearing, for example, thebearing 42, for the support of the upper end chamber.

3 portion of the anger 31 in a manner discussed hereinbefore. a

The closure member 50 is provided with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending generally circular passages 54 to provideforthe passage of ice axially outwardly of the freezing chamber uponrotation of the auger 31. The passages 54 are aligned with the space 36between the auger 31 and the liner 12 within which the flight 35is-disposed. Each of the passages 54 has a chamfered portion 56 at thelower end thereof. Thus, the radial cross-sectionaltarea of thepassageways 54 is greater at the lower or inner end thereof than at theupper or discharge end thereof to eifect acompression of the ice as itflows axially outwardly of the freezing Also, the chamfered portions 56of adjacent ones of the passages 54 communicate with each other therebyto define relatively sharp ice masticating edge portions 58 in axialalignment with the flight 35.

Operation of the ice making apparatus including the closure 50 issimilar to the mode of operation described he'reinbefore.

It is to be noted that'the top closures 37 and 50 have commonattributes, one of which is the provision for' compression of the ice asit flows axially outwardly of the freezing chamber 36. Such compressionof the ice is effected by what may be termed an extrusion process, thereduction in radial cross-sectional area of the openings in the topclosures 37' and 50 relative to the freezing chamber and axiallyoutwardly or upwardly thereof producing the compression which results inrelatively clear ice from which substantially all of the excess moisturehas been removed.

a ,In addition, and in accordance with another feature of the instantinvention, discharge of the ice through the disclosed top end closures37 and 50 is a substantially axial discharge, radial movement of the icebeing minimized thereby'maximizing the capacity of the ice-makingapparatus by minimizing impedance to ice flow. Further, and

in accordance with a more restricted aspect of the invention, theradially extending members between adjacent ones of the axiallyextending passageways define ice masti- 7 dating edges in axialalignment with the spiral flight of the ice making apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice making machine comp-rising a casing defining a substantiallycylindrical freezing chamber, refrigeratioh means carried bysaid casingin freezing relationship with respect to the chamber defined thereby,means for supplying water to the freezing chamber defined by saidcasing, an auger'rotatably "mounted in the freezing chamber, said augerhaving a body portion having a diameter less than-the internal diameterof the casing to provide a space therebetween and said auger'having aspiral flight in said space the edge of which flight is positionedclosely adjacent the inside surface of the casing, a closure member"secured to the casing and closing one end of the freezing chamber, saidclosure member having circumferentially spaced, lugs secured to thecasing and circumferential openings betweenthe lugs forming aninterrupted circumferential slot axially aligned with said space,

{said closure member being provided with a plurality of 'ice masticatingmembers positioned in saidslot at spaced points completely therearound,each of said members befing provided with a radially extending ,knife'edge portion closely overlying the'end of said flight.

2, An'ice making machine'comprising a casing defining .a substantiallycylindrical freezing chamber, refriger- Qation means carried by saidcasing in freezing relationship iwith respect to the chamber definedthereby, means for supplyingwater to the freezing chamber defined bysaid casing, an an er rotatably mounted in the freezing chamher, saidauger having a bodygportion having a diameter 7 less than the-internaldiameter of the casing to provide a space therebetweeri'and'said" augerhaving a spiral flight in said space the edge of which flight ispositioned closely adjacent the inside surface of the casing, a closurethember secured to the casing and closing one end of the freezingchamber, said closure member being provided with a bearing memberrotatably supporting one end of said auger and said closure memberhaving circumferen= tially spaced lugs secured to the casing, andcircumferential openings between the lugs forming an interrupted circumferential slot axially aligned with said space, said closure memberbeing provided with a plurality of ice masticating members positioned insaid slot at spaced points completely therearound, each of said membersbeing provided with a radially extending knife edge portion closelyoverlying the end of said flight.

3. -An ice making machine comprising a casing defin ing a substantiallycylindrical freezing chamber, refrigeration means carried by said casingin freezing relationship with respect to the chamber defined thereby,means for supplying water to the freezing chamber defined by saidcasing, an anger rotatably mounted in the freezing chamber, said augerhaving a body portion having a diameter less than the internal diameterof the casing to provide a space therebetween and said auger having aspiral flight in said space the'edge of which flight is positionedclosely adjacent the inside surface of the casing, a closure membersecured to the casing and closing one end of the freezing chamber, saidclosure member having circumferentially spaced lugs secured to thecasing and circumferential openings between the lugs forming aninterrupted circumferential s'lotraxially aligned with said space, saidclosure member being provided with a plurality of ice masticatingmembers positioned in said slot at spaced points completely therearound,each of said members being provided with a radially extending knife edgeportion closely overlying the end of said flight, and a cover overlyingthe closure member, said cover having a hollow por tion terminating in adischarge chute for directing ice moved upwardly through said slots toabove the closure to a place of discharge.

4. An ice making machine comprising a casting defining a substantiallycylindrical freezing chamber, refriger ation means carried by saidcasing in freezing relationship with respect to the chamberdefined'thereby, means for supplying water to the freezing chamberdefined by said casing, an anger rotatably mounted in the freezingchamber, said auger having a body portion having a diameter less thanthe internal diameter of the casing to provide a space therebetween andsaid auger having a spiral flight in said space, the edge of whichflight is'positioned closely Y forming with said closure member and theadjacent end ofthe chamber a plurality of circumferential openingsforming an interrupted circumferential slot axially aligned with saidspace.

5. 'In an ice-making machine comprising a cylindrical freezing chamber,"means for cooling the freezing chamber, means for supplying water tothe-freezing chamber,

and means including a spiral flight for advancing ice axially Of thechamber, the improvement comprising a closure 'member forthe end of thechamber towards which the ice is advanced, said closure member having aplurality of circurnferentially spaced axially extending passages. forthe discharge of ice axially outwardly of the freezing chamber, thepassages in said closure memberhaving a radial cross-sectional arearelatively smaller than the radial cross-sectional area of said-freezingchamber to effect compression of the ice upon'movernent thereof axiallythr'ough said closure member. V V t i '6. n an ice-making machinecomprising a cylindrical freezing chamber, means for cooling thefreezing chamber, means for supplying water to the freezing chamber, andmeans including a spiral flight for advancing ice axially of thechamber, the improvement comprising a closure member fixedly secured tothe end of the chamber towards which the ice is advanced, said closuremember having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extendingpassages for the discharge of ice axially outwardly of the freezingchamber, the passages in said closure member having a radialcross-sectional area relatively smaller than the radial cross-sectionalarea of said chamber to effect axial discharge and compression of theice upon movement thereof axially through said closure member.

7. In an ice making machine comprising a cylindrical freezing chamber,means for cooling the freezing chamber, means for supplying water to thefreezing chamber, and means including a spiral flight for advancing iceaxially of the chamber, the improvement comprising a closure member forthe end of the chamber towards which the ice is advanced, said closuremember having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extendingpassages for the discharge of ice axially outwardly of the freezingchamber, the passages in said closure member being defined by aplurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced members joinedto one another by an annular radially outer peripheral portion and acentral portion, said closure member cooperating with said freezingchamber and spiral flight to maintain the central axis of said spiralflight coincident with the central axis of said freezing chamber, thepassages in said closure member having a radial cross-sectional arearelatively smaller than the radial cross-sectional area of said freezingchamber to effect compression of the ice upon movement thereof axiallythrough said closure member.

8. An ice making machine comprising a cylindrical freezing chamber,means for cooling the freezing chamber, means for supplying Water to thefreezing chamber, means including a spiral flight for advancing iceaxially of the chamber, and a closure member for the end of the chambertowards which the ice is advanced, said closure member having aplurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending passages for thedischarge of ice axially outwardly of the freezing chamber, the passagesin said closure member having a radial cross-sectional area relativelysmaller than the radial cross-sectional area of said freezing chamber toeffect compression of the ice upon movement thereof axially through saidclosure member. 9. In an ice making machine comprising a cylindricalfreezing chamber, means for cooling the freezing chamber, means forsupplying water to the freezing chamber, means including a spiral flightfor advancing ice axially of the chamber, the improvement comprisingclosure means for the end of the chamber towards which the ice isadvanced defining substantially axially extending aperture means foreffecting concomitant compression and axial discharge of ice outwardlyof the freezing chamber, the aperture means defined by said closuremeans being generally axially aligned with the freezing chamber andhaving a radial cross-sectional area relatively smaller than the radialcross-sectional area of the freezing chamber adjacent the terminal endof the flight to eflect compression of the ice upon movement thereofaxially of said closure member.

10. An ice making machine comprising a cylindrical freezing chamber,means for cooling the freezing chamber, means for supplying water to thefreezing chamber, means including a spiral flight for advancing iceaxially of the chamber, and closure means for the end of the chambertowards which the ice is advanced defining substantially axiallyextending aperture means for effecting concomitant compression and axialdischarge of ice out- Wardly of the freezing chamber, the aperture meansdefined by said closure means being generally axially aligned with thefreezing chamber and having a radial cross-sectional area relativelysmaller than the radial cross-sectional area of the freezing chamberadjacent the terminal end of the flight to effect compression of the iceupon movement thereof axially of said closure member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,684,203 Royle Sept. 11, 1928 1,904,884 Royle Apr. 18, 1933 1,999,926Garzia Apr. 30, 1935 2,353,362 Rudd July 11, 1944 2,692,630 Doolin Oct.26, 1954 2,732,587 Greene Jan. 31, 1956 2,753,694 Trow July 10, 19562,825,209 Nelson Apr. 4, 1958 2,962,877 Chaplik Dec. 6, 1960 2,962,878Keller Dec. 6, 1960 2,970,776 Buckman Feb. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS409,499 Great Britain May 3, 1934

